Review of Prepregnancy Care and Counseling—Reply

This article is a reply to comments on a review of prepregnancy care and counseling. The authors respond to remarks concerning screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and iron deficiency. They agree with HCV screening for women of reproductive age, noting the US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation for adults aged 18 to 79 years. Identifying and treating HCV with direct-acting antiviral medications before pregnancy can improve maternal health and reduce perinatal transmission to the child. Regarding iron deficiency screening, the authors state that recommendations vary among professional organizations. Nevertheless, they found no specific recommendations or robust data in prepregnancy counseling studies to support routine iron deficiency screening for individuals planning pregnancy.